Fluidic sequence controller

ABSTRACT

A sequencing controller, pure fluid device. Modular construction, highly flexible in the nature and complexities of its applications. Uses program punch card forms, fixed with respect to input and output. Operates on the basis of sensor response to actual situation in controlled process or energy. Coincidence device compares controller output and sensor response. Selective sequence station repeater. Multiple manifold unit and punch card structure between sequence and output modules. Plug-in modules, input and output fluidic circuit boards and punch cards readily replaceable, and process or energy sensors flexible in application.

llnite States ltinner l atent [151 3,656,510 [4 1 Apr. 18,1972

1541 FLUIDIIC SEQUENCE CUNTROLLER [72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: The lFoxhoro Company, Foxboro, Mass.

lllans-Dieter Kinner, Duxbury, Mass.

[22] Filed: Dec. 30, 1969 211 App1.No.: 889,210

52 us. Cl .Q. ..137/608, 137/815 [51] lnt. Cl. ..F15c 1/10 [58] Field of Search ..137/81.5, 608; 235/201, 200

[56] I References Cited 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,250,285 5/1966 Vockroth, Jr ..137/81.'5 3,364,342 l/1968 Jakubowski ..235/201 X 3,366,043 1/1968 Fitch 235/20l FS 3,384,115 5/1968 Drazan et a1 ..137/608 3,407,834 10/1968 Brandenberg ..137/271 3,420,254 l/1969 Machmer ..137/81.5

Hatch, Jr. et a1. ..l37/81.5 3,503,411 3/1970 Bauer et al ...l37/8l.5 X 3,516,436 6/1970 Klaus et al. ..137/600 X 3,526,723 9/1970 Thomson ..l37/8l.5 X

Primal Examiner-Samuel Scott Attorney-Lawrence H. Poeton [5 7] ABSTRACT A sequencing controller, pure fluid device. Modular construction, highly flexible in the nature and complexities of its applications. Uses program punch card forms, fixed with respect to input and output. Operates on the basis of sensor response to actual situation in controlled process or energy. Coincidence device compares controller output and sensor response. Selective sequence station repeater. Multiple manifold unit and punch card structure between sequence and output modules. Plug-in modules, input and output fluidic circuit boards and punch cards readily replaceable, and process or energy sensors flexible in application.

25 Claims, 42 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPR 18 1972 SHEET 01 0F 24 INVENTOR. HANS DIETER KINNER 1 04302: AGE NT PATENTEDAPR 18 m2 sum 020; 24

MAN|FOLD(56 PUNCH CARD(12) FIG. 1A

PATENTEDAPR 18 m2 SHEET UBUF 24 Wil 74 f5? FIG. 2A 56 FIG. 2C

PATENTEDAPR 18 m2 3,656,510

SHEET GSUF 24 PUNCH CARD (12) S MAN FO D GASKET I L (56) OUTPUT MODULE. I 11 Q; 62

FIG.3

TRACK F|G.4

72 72 f A TENER 69 'IO 6 1O BASE 68 TRACK 8 5 54 I 54 67 FIG. 4A 67 F1648 PATENTEUAPR 18 1912 3,656, 51 0 sum as 0F 24 SEQUENCE (1o) I-Illl llillllll.

a w m-m m m w FIGB P'ATE'NTEUAPR 1'8 :912 C 3,656,510

sum 078F221 SEQUENCE CIRCUIT BOARD (74X 2) PATENTEDAPR 18 I972 3,656,510

SHEET 08 0F 24 75 74 Y A Q I CIRCUIT BOARD F4? .z A/

, l f :"fj. I V I q/ I POWER (16) AMPLIFIER 86,"

i FLUIDIC CIRCUIT BOARD (83) OUTPUT OUTPUT (11) FIG.1O

PATENTEDAPRWIQIK v r 3,556,510 SHEET 110F24 PATENTEUIPR 1 8 I972 sum 12 0F. 24

OUTPUT RUN IN RUN O UT DO OUT FIG. 14

HIGH A s\1O3 IO 7 SEQ. Il-l4 seesaw INHIBI I-4A I04- LOW A s IO I swarm INHIBIT 58 6 OUTPUT--H SET OUT HOLD \ I |-.sEQuENcE PATENTE-MR 18 I972 SHEET 13UF 24 OUTPUT B Illlllllllllnllll.

O X 0 X 0 O A O X X FIG. 17

PATENTEBAPRIBIQR I 3,656,510

sum NUF 2'4 SENSORS START -ET-"-' 511% 0%? (16) 17 (1s) v & CARDS STATIONS AMPLIFIERS, PROC ss- COINCID N CE SEQUENCE L FJH WSTATION 7 91G 'Q'I J (IO SETl lRUN 3:

MANIFOLD (13) v P -EID H618 0 W v 10 (12) (1'1) 15 START PUNCH OUTPUT (16 (17) ('18) i wags STATIONS AMPLI IERS PROCESS co|-c|oific"E gg$g o I Ill. HID COINCIDENCE E CE m ON DONE sg fi u I 1 /SETl lRUN L l MANIFOLD (']9}\ FIG .19

mar w -a PATENTEDAPR 18 m2 3,656,510

SHEET 15UF 24 Bfil l' T o N 15- 13 12 m 'Z L R m DONE 0 TO PROCESS SEQUENCE OUTPUT DONE 'TO PROCESS SEQUENCE OUTPUT PUNCH CARD SAFETY FEED BACK (COI NCIDENCE) FIG. 20-

PATENTEDAPR 8 I972 mm 0-0m 01 wuzmnomw wr PDnEbO A mm g as 

1. A fluidic sequence programmer or controller comprising a series of sequence modules, a series of output modules, a multiple manifold unit between said sequence modules and said output modules, and replaceable program matrix means operationally fixed between said manifold unit and said output modules, said manifold unit having a separate manifold passage individually connected to each of said sequence modules, each of said output modules having multiple inputs potentially connectable to said various manifold passages, and said program matrix means comprising a group of series of potential openings with each of said series of potential openings individually related to one of said manifold passages as reading means determinative of which of said output module inputs is connected to each of said manifold passages.
 2. A sequence controller according to claim 1, wherein said program matrix means is in the form of punch card structure.
 3. A sequence controller according to claim 1, wherein said program matrix means is in the form of individual punch cards, one for each of said manifold passages.
 4. A sequence controller according to claim 1, including a repeat system operative with respect to selected ones of said sequence modules, and responsive to effects produced by the outputs of some of said output modules to effectuate a choice between an advance and a repeat, in the sequence operation of said controller.
 5. A programmer according to claim 1, wherein said sequence modules are operable one at a time in a determinable manner.
 6. A sequence controller according to claim 1 for use in process or energy control, wherein said output modules supply an output signal to the process or energy to be controlled, with sensor means provided in selected locations with respect said process or energy to respond to selecTed situations of said process or energy, and signal connection means from said sensor means to said controller as a function in the operation of said controller.
 7. A sequence controller according to claim 6, wherein comparison means is provided in said sensor signal connection means to determine coincidence as between said output modules signals and said sensor response.
 8. A sequence controller according to claim 6, wherein said sequence modules are connected for sequential step actuation in response to signals from said sensor means.
 9. In a process or energy control device, fluidic program and control operating system means for said process or energy, comprising control initiating sections, control executing sections, a readily removable program matrix operationally between said initiating and executing sections, said matrix containing punch card structure comprising a group of series of potential holes, each series individual to one of said executing sections, said matrix and sections all being fixed in the sense of being without relative movement with respect to each other during operation of said system, means responsive to a selected situation in said process or energy, and means connecting said responsive means to at least one of said control initiating sections for carrying signals to change the operation of said system in accordance with said process or energy situation.
 10. A fluidic system according to claim 9 including coincidence means connected to compare outputs of said control executing sections with signals from said responsive means.
 11. A fluidic system according to claim 9, wherein said control initiating sections are connected in sequence and sequentially operable in response to signals from said responsive means.
 12. A fluidic system according to claim 9, wherein said punch card structure is subject to fluidic scanning by signals at least indirectly from said process or energy responsive means.
 13. A fluid system for reading a removable information matrix of fluid passages comprising, a fluid output system of readout passages, for fixed output operating relation to said information matrix in the sense of being without relative movement with respect thereto, each of said readout passages being individual to one of said matrix passages, on an isolated gating basis, without feedback and without cross-comtamination between said readout passages, means responsive to output signals from said readout passages for producing operating signals representative of the information in said information matrix, means for fluid input scanning said information matrix to initiate said output signals by directing fluid through said passages in said information matrix, said means for fluid scanning comprising a series of input passages for fixed application to one side of said information matrix, and means for sequentially directing fluid to said input passages, said means for sequentially directing fluid to said input passages including sensor means responsive to at least one situation of process or energy control responsive to said operating signals, and feedback connection means from said sensor means, said sequence means including coincidence check means responsive to said sensor means and said output signals for inhibiting the operation of said sequence means.
 14. A fluid system according to claim 13, wherein said information matrix is in the form of punch card means.
 15. A fluid system according to claim 13, wherein said output system includes output modules, and said information matrix comprises a punch card individual to each of said output modules.
 16. A fluidic sequence controller comprising a series of sequence modules, a series of output modules, a multiple manifold unit between said sequence modules and said output modules, and replaceable program matrix means operationally fixed between said sequence modules and said output modules, and with respect to said matrix anD said modules, each of said sequence modules having an output, said manifold unit having a manifold passage individual to each of said sequence modules with each passage connected to receive said output from the sequence module to which each passage is individual, said output modules each having an output, and multiple inputs, with each of said output module inputs potentially connectable to a different one of said manifold passages, said program matrix means having potentially several series of openings with each of said openings series selectively individual to a different one of said manifold passages as reading means determinative of which of said output module units is connected to each of said manifold passages and consequently to each of said sequence modules, wherein said controller is for process or energy control, with sensor means provided in selected locations with respect said process or energy to respond to selected situations of said process or energy, and feedback means from said sensor means to said controller as a factor in the operation of said controller, comparison mean in said feedback to determine coincidence as between the output of said controller and said sensor response, said sequence modules being connected in sequence and sequentially operably in response to said feedback, a monitor system operative with respect to selected ones of said sequence modules, and responsive to effects produced by the output of one of said output modules to effectuate a choice between an advance and a repeat, in the sequence operation of said controller, said sequence modules each including a replaceable fluidic sequence circuit board, and said output modules each including a replaceable fluidic output circuit board, and said controller comprising a plug-in unit assembly for multiple module repeatable alignment upon assembly and reassembly.
 17. In a fluidic sequencer control system for process or energy, wherein a removable sequence program matrix is operationally fixed with respect to its output and with respect to a scanning input thereto, a building block assembly of a manifold block form with a plurality of individual manifold passages therein, at least one sequence station block form with plug-in assembly means to said manifold block form including a fluid connection to one of said passages individual to said sequence station in said manifold block form, and a plurality of output block forms with plug-in assembly means to said manifold block including fluid connections from each of said output block forms to at least one of said sequence station block forms through said passage in said manifold block form, with said program matrix mounted between said manifold block form and said output block forms blocking said connections, said fluid connections becoming actuality when a program hole is provided in said matrix between one of said output block forms and one of said manifold passages.
 18. A sequencer control system according to claim 17 wherein a single output from each of said output block forms is applied to control one or more process or energy situations, wherein sensors are applied to said situations, and wherein the outputs of said sensors, singly or in concert, are applied to said control system to operatively affect said system in functions such as sequence step actuation.
 19. A sequencer control system according to claim 18, wherein a sequence station repeat control system is input connected for response to the output of at least one of said sensors, and output connected to reactivate at least one of said sequence stations.
 20. A sequence control system according to claim 18, wherein comparison means is provided in said outputs of said sensors to compare said outputs with related command signals to said process or energy situations, and the output of said comparison means is applied to said control system in representation of said signals from said sensors and wherein a sEquence station repeat control system is input connected for response to the output of at least one of said sensors, and output connected to reactivate at least one of said sequence stations.
 21. A sequencer control system according to claim 18 wherein said sequence step actuation results in a fluidic scanning step applied to said scanning input of said program matrix.
 22. A sequence control system according to claim 18, wherein comparison means is provided in said outputs of said sensors to compare said outputs with related command signals to said process or energy situations, and the output of said comparison means is applied to said control system in representation of said signals from said sensors.
 23. A sequencer control system according to claim 22, wherein said comparison means is a fluidic coincidence module including an exclusive OR turbulence amplifier.
 24. In a fluidic sequencer control system for process or energy, wherein a sequence program holed matrix is operationally fixed between and with respect to its output and to a scanning input thereto, a sequencer module, and output module, and a manifold between said modules, said modules being plug-in mounted with said manifold, said program matrix comprising readily removable punch-card means including program hole groups determinative of fluidic connections to individual portions of said output module, said sequencer module including a readily removable sequencer fluidic circuit board, and said output module including a readily removable output fluidic circuit board, whereby said sequencer control system is highly flexible as to different applications to process or energy control, and as to rapid and simple changes from one such application to another.
 25. A sequencer control system according to claim 24, wherein multiple sensors are selectively applied to controlled situations of said process or energy as a further element of application flexibility of said control system, the response of said sensors being applied to said control system to effect operational changes therein. 